Continuing the tour of Philadelphia... Wait, what?

Fun fact: Philadelphia was the Roman name for Amman. And before that, the first settlements in the area were called Rabbath Ammon.

In the Citadel, we can see the whole history of the city. This seems to have been a lively place at the top of one of Amman’s seven hills, where you can find the ruins of the temple of Hercules and of the Ayyubid civilization. 

You also have a great view of the Roman Theater and its very steep steps, as well as, a panoramic view of the hilly city of Amman and its 4 million inhabitants.

We also went to the King Abdullah Mosque, the only Mosque that non-muslims are allowed to visit. My wife had to wear a chador, a full body cloak that does not cover the face, but I did not have to wear one as I was wearing pants. The Mosque is decorated with blue tiles that make it really distinctive and the interior of the nave was beautiful, really calm and solemn. I was impressed to learn it could house 3000 worshipers. 

We ended this long morning by driving through the bustling downtown and eating a great falafel sandwich from a local street vendor.

The next morning, we went to Aljoun castle and Jerash, north of Amman. While driving through the northern countryside we passed through semi-arid and hilly landscapes with vast valleys. These were covered with farms and orchards and the locals sold a variety of fruits on their roadside stands - or as our driver called them, fruit drive-throughs.

Aljoun castle is a medieval fortress on the top of a hill with an amazing view of the valleys around it. The castle is being restored but you can still visit the rooms where the soldiers used to rest and prepare for battle - you could also “play” with the boulders used on the catapults.

Jerash is an archeological site of a Roman city that has been preserved to this day. The Cardo, the Roman main street, is so well maintained that we have the feeling of being transported 2000 years in the past. You can almost see yourself on this stone paved street surrounded by tall columns, walking among the Romans on your way to the temple, passing by the local shops, fountains, theatres and an impressive oval plaza. Definitely a must!